Inauguration Weekend

Campus Information

Inauguration

Central at Heart

The Inauguration of Roger D. Drake as Twenty-sixth President of Central Methodist
University was held May 1-4, 2014. The inauguration ceremony took place Saturday,
May 3 at 2:00 p.m. in Linn Memorial UMC. See the full schedule of events.

About President Drake

Dr. Roger D. Drake is the 26th President in Central Methodist University history.
Prior to joining CMU on July 1, 2013, Dr. Drake was the Vice President of Administration
and Finance at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, for nine years. His responsibilities
included serving as chief financial officer, and overseeing areas such as accounting,
finance, planning, human resources, information technology, information systems, buildings
and grounds, the campus service center, and auxiliary enterprises. Dr. Drake also
held the position of Vice President for Business Affairs at Lees College in Jackson,
Kentucky.

During his tenure at Lindsey Wilson, Dr. Drake was a key member of a leadership team
that strengthened the business model and advanced the institutional mission. Accomplishments
include increasing enrollment, improving the quality of the academic program, adding
faculty positions, raising funds for capital improvements, and leading the college
through a financial turnaround. Dr. Drake has served the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in many roles, such as Special Finance
Reader for the Committee on Compliance and Reports, Evaluator for On-Site Review Committees,
and Evaluator for Special Committees. Among further contributions are his service
as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities
Business Officers, as well as participation in the Council of Independent Colleges
Presidential Vocation and Mission Program. He also received the Martin S. Geisel Leadership
Award, Vanderbilt University Executive MBA.

Dr. Drake attended Lees Junior College in Jackson, Kentucky, and received a Bachelor
of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Eastern Kentucky University in
Richmond. He holds a Master of Business Administration/Executive MBA degree from Vanderbilt
University in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree from
Vanderbilt University with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership and Policy.

President Drake's vision for CMU is to uphold the mission of "preparing students to
make a difference in the world." In selecting the theme for this inaugural weekend,
"Central At Heart," President Drake affirms a commitment to foster an appreciation
for the culture of teaching and learning, the sense of belonging among the students,
and the commitment and dedication that exists on the CMU campuses.